Large number of illegal immigrants to be deported after raid at Stegra

During a raid at Stegra in Boden last week, several individuals were found to be neither authorized to work nor to be in Sweden at all. Now, around 30 of the illegal immigrants discovered in the company’s operations will be deported.

Last week, the Police Authority, the Swedish Work Environment Authority, and the Swedish Tax Agency conducted joint workplace inspections at the site where Stegra is building a new steel mill in Boden. They found around 20 individuals who are not authorized to stay in Sweden.

The Swedish Work Environment Authority has also conducted checks on over 1,700 individuals and nearly 160 companies regarding employers’ obligation to report foreign labor to the posting registry.

It is now reported that the number of individuals to be deported as a result of the inspections has reached 32, and the police have filed several reports of violations of the Aliens Act.

“More checks must be carried out, of course. And the industry itself must also be vigilant; one must keep track of who is working within their contractor or as a subcontractor,” says Joakim Lundgren, operation manager at the border police, to Swedish Radio.

As there was not enough space in the detention center, 13 individuals instead received expulsion orders and are being supervised.

“This means, for example, that they need to visit the police at specific times for discussions when they are expected to be sent home,” says Joakim Lundgren, operation manager at the border police, to Swedish Television.

Inadequate security work

In addition to the illegal immigrants, deficiencies in the safety work of 16 out of 17 inspected companies were also found.

According to Nils Eklund, press officer for Stegra in Boden, it is too early to comment on the results of the authorities’ inspections.

“We are still awaiting information and documentation from the authorities. First, we need to gain a better understanding of the grounds for the police’s decision, and secondly, the issues raised by the Swedish Work Environment Authority must also be addressed in the usual manner. But generally, we welcome the authorities’ collaboration on these matters, as we have done from day one,” he said.